For the next twelve months Healthwatch Kirklees are wanting to hear about peoples' experience of using adult social care services in Kirklees. The attached poster gives details of how you can volunteer to take part.

At the end of 2018, there was a special meeting of the Learning Disability Partnership Board to review its role and performance, chaired by Inclusion North. In preparation for this, carers submitted their views, and these are attached. Also attached are the conclusions written up by Inclusion North.

Kirklees Adult Social Care is changing, and there is an invitation to carers and service users to be part of a group that helps shape the changes as they come into place. You will need to apply by 30th September 2018.

Carers met on two occasions to prepare a response to the draft Social Care Offer on which the Council is consulting. 31 carers met at Northorpe Barn on 24th April 2018, and a subsequent meeting of 10 carers on 1st May 2018 helped to refine the account from the larger meeting, and fill any gaps. This resulted in two documents. Thefirst document is essentially a commentary on the current situation, with carers identifying the issues and working practices that make life more difficult.

Two local carers raised a complaint about a perceived reluctance by local Electoral Services to support their son's wish to vote. The exchanges that resulted from this made clear some of the key principles that apply to this issue, and they have suggested that these be made more widely known. They found the Manager of Kirklees Electoral Services to be very helpful in clarfying the issues.